OUR COACHES

ADRIAN BALLANTYNE

Adrian (AJ) Ballantyne is a former elite men’s and mixed netball player, and has turned his love of the game into a coaching career spanning more than 10 years, including the last eight as a coach in Victoria’s elite competition, the Victorian Netball League.

In 2017 he joined Hawks Netball and in 2018 coached the club’s Division 1 team to its first Division 1 premiership since 2012.

AJ’s passion lies in both junior development and coach development, having worked with dozens of coaches and many representative clubs to develop their coaching skills and programs.

DAN RYAN

One of the biggest names in Australian coaching, Dan has a wealth of experience in working with athletes and a passion for helping both players and coaches develop their craft.

Ryan was most recently the head coach of the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Suncorp Super Netball, having previously been a Thunderbirds assistant coach for four seasons, and in 2016 he led the Manchester Thunder to the grand final in the UK Superleague.

He has also coached for South Australia in the Australian Netball League, as well as having roles with England’s 21/U squad, and numerous other teams at all levels.

Dan is a fantastic addition to thenetballcoach.com, and is looking forward to sharing knowledge, ideas and expertise with coaches worldwide.

KELSEY BROWNE

One of the most naturally gifted midcourters Victoria has ever produced, Kelsey Browne is now a two-time Suncorp Super Netball champion with the Sunshine Coast Lighting, as well as an Australian Diamond.

After two seasons with the Lightning and a call-up to the Diamonds squad for the 2018 Quad Series, Browne will join sister Madi Robinson in Collingwood colours in 2019.

GERARD MURPHY

Gerard is one of Victoria’s most accomplished coaches, having coached Victorian under-age teams at national championships, and enjoyed considerable success as a coach at both City West Falcons and Geelong Cougars in the Victorian Netball League.

As Cougars head coach, in 2017 he led the club’s Division 1 and 19/U teams to grand final success, while the Cougars’ top-flight Championship team reached the preliminary final. In 2018 the Cougars again reached the grand final in Championship and Division 1 under Gerard’s leadership.

He was also a selector for the elite Victorian Fury squad for the 2018 Australian Netball League season.

HEATH BROWN

One of Australia’s greatest ever men’s netballers, Heath represented his state and country for more than a decade, and captained the Australian Men’s team in the latter part of his career.

He is also a distinguished coach with a specialisation in defence, and has coached at State League level in both Victoria and New South Wales, as well as coaching the NSW Men’s team and in the men’s national program.

SARAH HOGAN

An elite player in both the women’s and mixed game, Hogan has represented Victoria and Australia and remains an integral part of Victorian Netball League club DC North East Blaze’s top Championship team.

Hogan is now also pursuing her coaching career, with a coaching role at VNL club DC North East Blaze, and was an assistant coach for the Victorian 17/U team in 2018.

MICAELA WILSON

We saw a lot more of Micaela Wilson in 2017 as she reignited her national league career with Collingwood, as part of the new Suncorp Super Netball League.

After a stellar under-age career that included numerous Victorian representations as well as Australian selection, including for the 2013 Youth World Cup squad, Micaela has enjoyed stints with Melbourne Vixens and NSW Swifts, as well as playing for Victorian Fury in the Australian Netball League.

Micaela also has extensive experience coaching junior players.

MATT BLOMELEY

Now an elite coach after a distinguished career as a men’s and mixed netballer, Matt has had netball in his veins since his teenage years.

He represented Victoria and Australia as a player at under-age and Open level before turning his hand to coaching, and is now the Australian 20/U Men’s coach and Victorian 23/U Men’s coach.

He also coaches in Victoria’s highest competition, the Victorian Netball League, with City West Falcons.

KEIRA WILLS

A former Victorian representative and Victorian Netball League player, Keira has turned her talents to coaching, where she has worked with both junior and senior athletes over a number of years.

She has enjoyed success as a team head coach at VNL club Peninsula Waves, and in 2017 will be Waves’ Championship division assistant coach.

JULIA ALLAN

An elite player in her own right, Julia has been the physiotherapist of choice for many elite teams, including Victoria’s under-age state teams and the Victorian Fury.

Julia has also been the physiotherapist for the Victorian Cyclones men’s state team, has worked with the Melbourne Heart and the Australian basketball team, and is often engaged to work with touring music artists, including Ed Sheeran and Drake.

SAMANTHA GOODEN

A rising star on the cusp of big things, Samantha has emerged as one of Australia’s most promising young shooters.

A member of Netball Australia’s elite specialist ‘talls’ program, in 2017 Sam took the next step in her netball career as a training partner with the Collingwood Magpies, before being called into the Melbourne Vixens squad in 2018 as an injury replacement player.

She has been a member of Victoria’s 19/U and 21/U teams and was also named as a member of the Australian 19/U and 20/U squads.

ABOUT US

Thenetballcoach.com is your number one netball drills and skills video resource, with a huge library of videos for coaches at every level.

Our experts are coaches, players and physiotherapists who are currently involved at the elite level, and have wide-ranging experience working with players of all ages and abilities.